Wrench



E. JOHNSON WRENCH Filed April 8, 1924 Cit Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES EDWARD JOHNSON, 0F PORT ALLEGANY,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRED LARSON, OF PORT ALLEGANY, PENNSYLVANIA.

WRENCH.

Application filed April 8,

To all QOh-OW/ifi may concern:

Be it known that I, Enwmm JOHNSON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Port Allegany, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in renches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the acconr panying drawings. a I This invention relates to certain improve ments in wrenches and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character with novel and improved means whereby is provided a quick acting sliding adjustment.

1 Another object of the invention is to provide anovel and improved device of this general character comprising two jaws one movable relative to the other, the movable jaw being provided with means to effect a fine adjustment and also withmeans whereby the sliding adjustment may be quickly accomplished.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved wrench whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure l is a view in perspective of a wrench constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of the device as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4. is a view in perspective of the releasing member as herein disclosed;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of one of the bearing blocks for the screw;

Figure 6 is aview in perspective of the wear blade herein employed. j

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes an elongated shank provided atits outer end with a aw 2 and along its inner edge with the ratchet teeth 3 with which 1924. Serial No. 705,061.

is adapted to be engaged the adjusting screw 4. The screw at is mounted on a rod 5 the extremities of which being engaged within a block 6. The movable jaw frame '5' is slidably mounted upon the shank 1 and 1s provided with a transversely disposed opening 8 in which the screw at is positioned. The aw frame 7 above and below the opening 8 is provided with the elongated recesses or pockets 9 circular in cross: section and having open the ends thereof opposed to the teeth 3. The block 6 are slidably mounted within the recesses or pockets 9 and the rod 5 is disposed through the entrance slots 11.

The blocks 6 are constantly urged toward the shank 1 to maintain the screw 4 in proper engagement with the teeth 3 through the instrumentality of the resilient members 10, herein disclosed as coil springs, of

requisite tension. The sides of the jaw frame 7 above and below the opening8 are provided with the slots 14 disposed in a direction transversely of the shank 1, said slots 14 being in communication with the pockets or recesses 9.

Disposed through the blocks 6 and extending outwardly through the slots 1% are the rods 15 to provide means whereby the blocks may be moved againstthetension of the resilient members or springs 11 to move the screw 4 out of engagement with the teeth 3 so that a quick sliding adjustment of the jaw frame 7 may be efiected with respect to the jaw 2. The desired finer adjustment of the jaw frame 7 is accomplished by re uisite rotation of the screw at when in operative engagement with the teeth 3.

Coasting with the extremities of the rods 15 is a releasing member B. This member R is substantially U-shaped in cross section and bridges the jaw frame 7 from the rear and is provided with the forwardly extending arms 16 extending above and below the opening 8, the rods 15 being operatively engaged with the arms 16 so that normally the intermediate or rear portion 17 ,of the member R is spaced from the adjacent rear end of the jaw frame 7 but by imposing pressure upon the member R the screw l will be moved out of engagement with the teeth 3 when it is desired to effect a quick ad justrnent of the jaw frame 7.

Surrounding the rod 5 between the upper end of the applied screw 4 and the adjacent upper wall of the opening 8'is a plate or washer 18 serving to take up thrustimposed upon the screw 4: and having the laterally disposed wings 19 with which contact the inwardly directed lugs 20 provided at the lower marginal portion of the upper a'rm l6 and at the free end portions thereof. By this means the washer 1S maintained in effective working position.

As herein disclosed, the opposed faces of the jaw 2 and aw frame 7 are provided with the removable work engaging plates-21 of a type to permit the wrenchherein disclosed to be used with particular advantage as a pipe wrench although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in this respect.

' From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a wrench constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly welladapted for use by rea son of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, andit will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of'some change and. modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A wrench of the class described. comprising, in combination, a toothed shank provided with a jaw, ajaw frame slid-ably mounted'on the shank and provided with a transverse opening in advance of the shank, said jaw frame above and below the opening being provided with pockets disposed toward theshank, blocks 'freelymoiinted in the pockets, means for urgingtheblocks in a direction toward the shank, the opposed walls of said. opening being provided with slots in communication with the pockets, a member extending across the opening and through the slots, said member being engaged with the blocks, a screw mounted on said member to mesh with the teeth of the shank, a release member substantially U- shaped in form bridging the movable jaw framefrom the rear and having forwardly extending arms positioned aboveand below the o )enin in the movable 'aw frame said 1 e ing being provided with pockets disposed toward the shank, blocks -freely mounted in the pockets, means for urging the blocks in a direction toward the shank, the opposed walls ofsaid openingbein'g provided with slots in communication with the pockets, a member extending across the opening and through the slots, said member being engaged with the blocks, a screw mounted on one end of the screw and the adjacent wall of the opening in the movable ja-w frame,

the adjacent arms of the release member being provided with inwardly directed-lugs engaging said plate to hold the-same in applied position.

3. A wrench of the class described comprising in combination, a toothed shank provided with a jaw, a jaw frame'slidably mountedon-theshank and provided with a transverse opening inadv'ance of the shank,

said jaw frame above and below the-opening being provided with pockets disposed toward the-shank, blocks freely mounted in the pockets, means for urging the blocks in a direction toward the shank, the opposed walls of-said opening extending tO-iLwPOlIlll adjacent said toothed-shank and being provided withslots in communication with the pockets, a Xm'ember extending across the opening-and through the slots, said memher being disposed through the blocks, a screw mounted on said member to mesh with the teeth of the shank, a release member substantially U=shaped in form hridging the movable jaw "frame from the rear and having forwardly extending arms .positioned above "and below the opening in the movable jaw-frame, said-movable jaw frame at opposite sides beingprovided with slotsincommunicationwith the pockets, rods connecting the blocks and the arms of the release member and extending through-the slots in the movable aw frame, and a thrust plateinterposed between-one end of the screw-and the-adjacent wall of theopeningin the movable jaw frame, the adjacent arms of the release memberbeing .provided'with inwardly. directed lugs'engaging said plate to hold the same in applied position. v p I In testimony whereof I hereunto'aiiix my signature.

EDWARD I JOHNSON. 

